Assistant head teacher fired after ‘weird texts’ to ex-pupil

AN assistant head teacher at Launceston College has been found guilty of unacceptable professional conduct after engaging in an inappropriate conversation with a former pupil.

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The Teaching Regulation Agency (TRA) found that David Egford, a former assistant principal and safeguarding lead at the secondary in Cornwall, engaged in communication that was sexual in nature and crossed professional boundaries when he exchanged text messages with a former pupil over three days early in 2024.

A disciplinary hearing report published in January found that while Mr Egford did not approach the pupil in the first place, but was asked by a third party to provide her with support in seeking a job, the conversation turned "weird" when he made what he told the panel was "clumsy jokes".

Between November 2023 and February 15, 2024, Mr Egford is alleged to have developed an inappropriate relationship with the former pupil by engaging in communication that was sexual in nature and he crossed professional boundaries and that his conduct was sexually motivated.